Teens arrested after alleged plot to kidnap Stratford H.S. student

GOOSE CREEK, SC (WCSC) - The Goose Creek Police Department has arrested three teenagers accused of conspiring to kidnap a Stratford High School student and scare him by shooting off an assault rifle.

Authorities have charged 17-year-old Patrick Joseph Coxe, a 16-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, stalking and conspiracy.

On May 31, Goose Creek police were contacted by the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office in regards to an incident at Stratford High School. Deputies say they located Coxe and another juvenile inside a Ford Mustang around 5 p.m. They located a white trash bag nearby that contained military clothing and equipment.

Among the items authorities found and listed in the police report were cable ties used to form hand restrains, several 30-round AR-15 magazines with blank rounds. A pipe used for smoking narcotics was also found inside the vehicle, according to the police report.

During the investigation, deputies found out that some of the items were to be used in a plot to kidnap and scare a 17-year-old Stratford High student. The investigation also revealed that the three suspects had also committed acts that amounted to stalking of the student.

Investigators believe that one of the suspects planned to kidnap the victim and hold him inside one of the school's bathroom while the suspect fired off blank rounds to scare him.

A police report states that investigators were also given information that one of the juveniles had a police badge and 9mm in their possession. Authorities say when they went to the juvenile's home they located several 9mm bullets and two 20 gauge shotgun shells.

On Friday, the Goose Creek Police Department and Berkeley County Sheriff's Office investigators located all three suspects and took them into custody.

The two juveniles were charged as adults and received $100,000 surety bonds. The two were transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice. Patrick Coxe received a $50,000 bond and was locked up at the Hill Finklea Detention Center.